St. Paul’s Coach Mick Nunez stressed the importance of the game, not for its district implications, but as a rebound performance after Monday’s heartbreaking loss to Northshore in which the Wolves gave up three runs in the seventh to lose 8-7.

“This win tonight was big because it got us back rolling before the playoffs start,” Nunez said.

“It still feels good,” St. Paul’s catcher Handsome Monica said about clinching a share of the district title. “It would have felt better if we’d have won Monday.”

Monday’s loss dropped St. Paul’s from No. 6 to 10 in the 5A power rankings and put Northshore in position to claim the final playoff spot.

“I think as a team, seeing how the loss to Northshore dropped us from No. 6 to 10, they understand the significance of every game,” Nunez said. “It bumped (Northshore) up to No. 32. I’m happy they’re in, but I’d much rather be a No. 6.”

Still, St. Paul’s outlasted Fontainebleau’s starter Kyle Simeon, who walked four in five innings but limited the damage and allowed just three runs.

Meanwhile, Trent wiggled out of trouble in the second, third and fourth, stranding six baserunners in those innings. He managed to give up just one run after loading the bases with no outs in the fourth with the top of Fontainebleau’s order coming up.

“I was little bit shaky, but I thought I settled down,” said Trent, who picked up the win. “We have a good defense so I don’t need to worry too much about baserunners. I kind of just went out there and threw the ball.”

Nunez said he feels the Wolves pitching has developed into a strength.

“Logan’s been throwing well for us his last couple outings,” he said. “I’ve got two pretty good pitchers in Carlo and Logan. Either way I went I felt good: I knew one was starting and one was relieving.”

Graffeo came on in the fifth and looked electric, using a lively fastball and sharp curve to strike out four in three innings.

“The more opportunities each player has, they get stronger and more mentally tough,” Monica said of St. Paul’s pitchers. “Today Logan and Carlo had the mindset that they’re going to win and do their job.”

Joel Spansel had three hits for the Wolves, who used a six-run sixth against Fontainebleau’s bullpen to put the game away.

Trent, last week’s NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune St. Tammany Parish Player of the Week, had a two-run double to cap the explosion, his third RBI of the day.

Now both teams will wait for the release of the 5A brackets this weekend.

Fontainebleau (11-15, 7-5) was No. 29 in the most recent power rankings, and projects to be on the playoff bubble.

St. Paul’s (18-7, 9-3) will host a home game and should be seeded between ninth and eleventh.

Nunez didn't tip his hand about whether he'll start Graffeo or Trent against their first-round opponent.

“I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “Logan as of late has looked real nasty. Carlo, his bad days are usually good. We’ll look at who we’re facing and take it from there.”

According to Monica, an Arizona commitment, the playoffs aren’t complicated.

“The issue is never the bats, really,” he said. “As long as our pitching comes ready to play and our defense comes with energy, we’ll get the job done because we’re always swinging.”